The Wordsmith's Forge

Today I started making liquid fertilizer from Russian comfrey. Begin with Part 1: Jugs. With those done, I harvested leaves.

( Walk with me ... )

Today is partly sunny, mild, and damp.  It rained thoroughly last night.

I fed the birds.  I haven't seen much activity today though.

I put out water for the birds.

On the old picnic table, a cucumber is blooming.

EDIT 6/9/23 -- I did the indoor setup for the two jugs I'll be using to make comfrey liquid fertilizer, and took pictures.

EDIT 6/9/23 -- I tore up a handful of comfrey leaves for the first jug, put them in it, and filled the rest of the way with water.  If it works, this will produce a dilute solution of liquid fertilizer.

EDIT 6/9/23 -- I started filling the second jug.  This one needs to be entirely full of comfrey leaves.  I only got about halfway before I ran out of energy.  I'll have to work on it more later.

I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus two mourning doves.

EDIT 6/9/23 -- We went out to Fox Ridge and Lake Charleston.  So many things are blooming!  :D

EDIT 6/9/23 -- I added more comfrey leaves to the second jug.  It's mostly full now, but not tightly packed, so it still needs more leaves stuffed in.

EDIT 6/9/23 -- I added more comfrey leaves to the second jug.  While it's possible to push down the mass, it springs back immediately, making it hard to keep additional material inside.  I'll call it done for now.  If the stuff wilts down by tomorrow, I may add more then.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Today is cloudy, mild, and damp.  It rained yesterday, and probably more last night.

I fed the birds.  I haven't seen much activity though.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/7/25 -- I did a bit of work on the patio.

It's been spitting or drizzling for much of the day, and is picking up again now.

EDIT 6/7/25 -- I put out more food for the birds.

I've seen several sparrows and house finches, a catbird, and at least one mourning dove.

The 'Mr. Stripey' tomato has green fruit.  :D




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Today is mostly sunny, windy, and hot.  :P  A beautiful day to stay indoors and write!  :D  Today is the Poetry Fishbowl on "Gentleness Is Strength" if you want to drop by and join the fun.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and houses finches plus a grackle. 

I put out water for the birds.  Honeybees are mobbing the small metal birdbath again.

EDIT 6/3/25 --  I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 6/3/25 --  I watered the old picnic table, patio plants, new picnic table, and septic garden.

The temperature has cooled off considerably.

EDIT 6/3/25 --  I watered the septic garden and the notch in the prairie garden.

EDIT 6/3/25 --  I watered the savanna seedlings.

EDIT 6/3/25 --  I watered the new picnic table and the patio plants, which seemed most in need of water.

I've seen at least one fairly large bat flying around.  :D

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
 

These photos of the south lot are from Sunday, but posted after midnight so it says Monday.

( Walk with me ... )

Today is partly cloudy and mild.

I haven't fed the birds yet. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, two mourning doves, and a blackbird.

I took some pictures in the house yard and south lot.

EDIT 6/1/25 -- I fed the birds.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/1/25 -- I watered the new picnic table garden.

The 'Pink Berkeley' has a green tomato, second to fruit after the two 'Chocolate Sprinkles' plants.

EDIT 6/1/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 6/1/25 -- I watered the patio plants.

I started trimming weeds around the forest garden.

EDIT 6/1/25 -- I watered the new picnic table and other plants around the house yard.

I watered the septic garden.

I've seen a fox squirrel.

EDIT 6/1/25 -- I watered seedlings in the savanna.

EDIT 6/1/25 -- I planted 3 white peach seeds in pots.

EDIT 6/1/25 -- I trimmed more weeds around the forest garden.

Pie cherries and mulberries have pink fruit.  Astilbe and snowball bush have buds.

EDIT 6/1/25 -- I trimmed more weeds around the forest garden.

EDIT 6/1/25 -- I trimmed more weeds around the forest garden.

EDIT 6/1/25 -- I trimmed more weeds around the forest garden.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Today is partly sunny and mild.

I haven't fed the birds yet.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.  Recently the house finches have been all over the thistle feeder.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I fed the birds.  I've seen a grackle and a robin.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I pulled and trimmed weeds around the purple-and-white garden.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I pulled and trimmed more weeds around the purple-and-white garden.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I pulled and trimmed more weeds around the purple-and-white garden.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I pulled and trimmed more weeds around the purple-and-white garden.  I am most of the way around the outside now.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I finished trimming weeds around the outside of the purple-and-white garden. 

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I started trimming weeds inside of the purple-and-white garden. 

I've seen a male cardinal and a male fox squirrel.  Several sparrows were splashing in the red birdbath.  I've seen a skunk on the patio.

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I started trimming weeds inside of the purple-and-white garden.  \o/

EDIT 5/31/25 -- I watered the patio plants.

Privet is blooming, with a heavy, honeyed scent, a little salty.

I've seen two bats flying around the edges of the yard, and the first several fireflies.  :D

Today is cloudy and cool.  It rained yesterday.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 5/29/25 -- I set out the pots of thyme to be planted later today.

EDIT 5/29/25 -- I planted two golden lemon thymes, one silver thyme, and one lime thyme in the goddess garden.  :D  The first two are old favorites, the last is new to me.

EDIT 5/29/25 -- I went back outside to do more yardwork, but it's drizzling now.  I did take a few pictures of the goddess garden with the new thyme plants.

EDIT 5/29/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 5/29/25 -- I set up the last of the wire planters with already potted flowers.  The narrow pots I have are awkward in the wider planters.  I think for future reference, I'll watch for wider, lower pots either in late-season sales or possibly next spring.  Those are good for combination plantings anyhow, which I like making.

EDIT 5/29/25 -- I trimmed grass along the east end of the new picnic table.

I've seen a male cardinal and a male indigo bunting.

EDIT 5/29/25 -- I filled 2 of the 6 taupe trough pots with half composted manure and half potting soil, then put them at the east end of the new picnic table.

It's drizzling again.

EDIT 5/29/25 -- I filled 2 more of the 6 taupe trough pots with half composted manure and half potting soil, then put one at the east end of the new picnic table and one at the west end.

It's drizzling again.

EDIT 5/29/25 -- I filled the last 2 of the 6 taupe trough pots with half composted manure and half potting soil, then put them at the west end of the new picnic table.

I've seen a fox squirrel.

EDIT 5/29/25 -- I sowed seeds in the taupe trough pots: Edible Flower Mix in one, Fragrant Mix flowers in one, 'Early Giant' leeks in one, 'Vine Peach' cantaloupe in one, borage and parsley in one, dill and 'Fluid Evolution' cilantro in one.

I watered the newly planted things.

As it is now dark, I am done for the night. 

Today is cloudy and cool.  It rained last night.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 5/28/25 -- I planted 10 greenish-yellow 'Alicia' and 10 red 'Doubna' gladioli in the septic garden. 

I saw a skunk on the patio.

EDIT 5/28/25 -- I planted a red portulaca and a purple torenia iin pots.

I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 5/28/25 -- I watered the newly planted things.

I've seen a catbird.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Today is mostly sunny and mild.

We walked around the south lot, then my partner Doug mowed that. 

EDIT 5/26/25 -- I fed the birds.  I've seen several sparrows and house finches, a male cardinal, and a young fox squirrel.  Robins are foraging the newly cut grass.  We found a toad in the south lot, and I moved him to the shadier garden under the maple tree.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 5/26/25 -- I sowed partial shade wildflower seed mix in a pot on the old picnic table.  I sowed cypress vine seeds in the septic garden and around the support wire of the telephone pole.

EDIT 5/26/25 -- I watered the septic garden, patio plants, and a few other things.

EDIT 5/26/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden, hollies, and Colorado blue spruce.

My partner Doug plans to mow the savanna next.

I've seen two catbirds, a grackle, and a female cardinal.

EDIT 5/26/25 -- I started trimming around things in the house yard.

EDIT 5/26/25 -- I finished the first bit of trimming around things in the house yard.

EDIT 5/26/25 -- I started trimming in front of the log garden in the house yard.

EDIT 5/26/25 -- I finished trimming in front of the log garden in the house yard.

EDIT 5/26/25 -- I trimmed brush along the path from the driveway to the savanna.

EDIT 5/26/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 5/26/25 -- I trimmed brush along the east side of the house.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.